Wow, what a great episode. I never thought they could put a Bollywood number in this show but they made it work, AND it was great! It was a complete "burst into song" moment, but I didn't mind.

The only thing I didn't like was Karen getting screwed out of that song at the end. She got a text from a random person and went home? Why not go up and watch, learn, grow? Especially since you're Derek's favorite at the moment.

Yes, I want Ellis gone. What a little snake bastard.

This is one of the few shows that ends and I didn't realize an hour had gone by. They really keep it moving.

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The only thing I didn't like was Karen getting screwed out of that song at the end. She got a text from a random person and went home? Why not go up and watch, learn, grow? Especially since you're Derek's favorite at the moment.

I inferred from the text that the whole rehearsal was canceled.

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Musically, I really liked this episode. The Snow Patrol song "Run" was very, very good (I think I actually like it better than the original!). The ballad done by either Karen OR Ivy was quite beautiful... one of the few songs from "Bombshell" that I really like a lot. The Bollywood piece was much "pop-pier" than I expected it to be, not styled like "traditional" Indian music that I've heard, and very well choreographed.

Not specifically related with this episode, but I just wish they wouldn't write all the characters quite as "anvil-icious" and so one-dimensional. Ellis is, of course, the worst example of this, where all you know of him is that he's a snake... but the problem affects virtually all the characters. It feels, to me, like they're writing the characters as if they are characters for a stage production, where you have a few hours and you don't have time to more delicately develop a character in the audience's mind... but this is television, and they had more than enough time to allow them to develop more naturally. Hopefully, since they now have a second season, they can develop the characters a little better, and give them some depth.

Oh, and how obvious is it that a reaction to eating peanuts is coming!

There was a line in the commercial for the episode that I didn't hear in the show (it was dubbed over the scene where everybody in the rehearsal room goes running to the doors), where somebody says something like "She's not breathing" or "Call a doctor"; I also figured that the "favor" would be to put peanut oil into a smoothie, but when it didn't happen, I figure the line is from a future episode where she does have an attack (probably in a Boston preview).

Let me guess: if they show any scenes from an "actual performance" this season, it will be in the finale, although I wouldn't be surprised if the last episode ends just as they're about to start the overture at the first preview, and the second season premiere takes place just before the Broadway previews begin (and I wouldn't be surprised to see "Spider-man: Turn Off The Dark"-level delays once they get there).
There could even be a cliffhanger when something happens to the star just before the first preview and they have to decide whether they really want Karen in the role or have Ivy do it. "If you want Karen to be Marilyn, call 1-900-SMASH-KAREN; if you want Ivy, call 1-900-SMASH-IVY. You can also text KAREN or IVY to 76274 (SMASH). $1 fee per call or text will apply; all proceeds go towards keeping NBC afloat long enough, especially after the expected losses with the Summer Olympics, to even have a second season."

There was a line in the commercial for the episode that I didn't hear in the show (it was dubbed over the scene where everybody in the rehearsal room goes running to the doors), where somebody says something like "She's not breathing" or "Call a doctor"; I also figured that the "favor" would be to put peanut oil into a smoothie, but when it didn't happen, I figure the line is from a future episode where she does have an attack (probably in a Boston preview).

Let me guess: if they show any scenes from an "actual performance" this season, it will be in the finale, although I wouldn't be surprised if the last episode ends just as they're about to start the overture at the first preview, and the second season premiere takes place just before the Broadway previews begin (and I wouldn't be surprised to see "Spider-man: Turn Off The Dark"-level delays once they get there).
There could even be a cliffhanger when something happens to the star just before the first preview and they have to decide whether they really want Karen in the role or have Ivy do it. "If you want Karen to be Marilyn, call 1-900-SMASH-KAREN; if you want Ivy, call 1-900-SMASH-IVY. You can also text KAREN or IVY to 76274 (SMASH). $1 fee per call or text will apply; all proceeds go towards keeping NBC afloat long enough, especially after the expected losses with the Summer Olympics, to even have a second season."

How about adding a very special crossover event where Ivy and Karen get to be mentors on the Voice.

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There was a line in the commercial for the episode that I didn't hear in the show (it was dubbed over the scene where everybody in the rehearsal room goes running to the doors), where somebody says something like "She's not breathing" or "Call a doctor"; I also figured that the "favor" would be to put peanut oil into a smoothie, but when it didn't happen, I figure the line is from a future episode where she does have an attack (probably in a Boston preview).

Let me guess: if they show any scenes from an "actual performance" this season, it will be in the finale, although I wouldn't be surprised if the last episode ends just as they're about to start the overture at the first preview, and the second season premiere takes place just before the Broadway previews begin (and I wouldn't be surprised to see "Spider-man: Turn Off The Dark"-level delays once they get there).
There could even be a cliffhanger when something happens to the star just before the first preview and they have to decide whether they really want Karen in the role or have Ivy do it. "If you want Karen to be Marilyn, call 1-900-SMASH-KAREN; if you want Ivy, call 1-900-SMASH-IVY. You can also text KAREN or IVY to 76274 (SMASH). $1 fee per call or text will apply; all proceeds go towards keeping NBC afloat long enough, especially after the expected losses with the Summer Olympics, to even have a second season."

But I want to call 1-900-SMASH-ELLIS-IN-THE-HEAD.

I don't think the finale/premiere will be as good as those ideas, but will probably be something more outlandish.

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Musically, I really liked this episode. The Snow Patrol song "Run" was very, very good (I think I actually like it better than the original!). The ballad done by either Karen OR Ivy was quite beautiful... one of the few songs from "Bombshell" that I really like a lot. The Bollywood piece was much "pop-pier" than I expected it to be, not styled like "traditional" Indian music that I've heard, and very well choreographed.

Not specifically related with this episode, but I just wish they wouldn't write all the characters quite as "anvil-icious" and so one-dimensional. Ellis is, of course, the worst example of this, where all you know of him is that he's a snake... but the problem affects virtually all the characters. It feels, to me, like they're writing the characters as if they are characters for a stage production, where you have a few hours and you don't have time to more delicately develop a character in the audience's mind... but this is television, and they had more than enough time to allow them to develop more naturally. Hopefully, since they now have a second season, they can develop the characters a little better, and give them some depth.

I also agree that the Bollywood number was very good.

That said, why are you surprised at the bad (or lack of) character development.
That's been the get go from episode 1.

And I don't buy that you can't develop characters in 2 hours.
Movies and plays can certainly do it much better than the writers of Smash have.

To be honest, I started to zone out during the scenes with Julia and her husband. That's how bad it is.

However the episode, on the whole, was pretty bad. What is Rebecca's game and why doesn't Karen see something's up? Why did Rebecca flip-flop again (can't sing, huge diva, to can sing lower and has good ideas, now back again)? Why keep giving the teenage son scenes above his acting abilities? Why did Karen pick *that* moment to day-dream a Bollywood number; you'd think she'd be a bit more engaged? Is Ellis mega stupid? When Karen realizes what happened she'll ask whoever's phone was borrowed and she'll quickly point the finger at Ellis (there wasn't a landline in the place? who borrows phones without some excuse like my battery died?)

However the episode, on the whole, was pretty bad. What is Rebecca's game and why doesn't Karen see something's up? Why did Rebecca flip-flop again (can't sing, huge diva, to can sing lower and has good ideas, now back again)? Why keep giving the teenage son scenes above his acting abilities? Why did Karen pick *that* moment to day-dream a Bollywood number; you'd think she'd be a bit more engaged? Is Ellis mega stupid? When Karen realizes what happened she'll ask whoever's phone was borrowed and she'll quickly point the finger at Ellis (there wasn't a landline in the place? who borrows phones without some excuse like my battery died?)

I miss Outsourced, too.

I don't think Karen is smart enough, or maybe ballsy enough to figure it out and point the finger. Ivy would be, but not Karen. And even if Karen does figure it out, so what? Everyone loved Ivy's performance, so it's not going to matter anyway. Karen missed her shot.